Control for heating furnaces



Nov. 11

A. WOOD CONTROL FOR HEATING FURNACES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1923 gwuenfom Andrew Wmcui A. WOOD' CONTROL FOR HEATING FURNACES Filed July 2 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet an cu k'o'z Andrew \Nmsrfl.

Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

NiTED sr TES 1,514,946 PATENT orrica.

ANDREW WOOD, OF CORNWALL ON THE HUDSON, NEW YORK.

I CONTROL FOR HEATING FURNACES.

Application filed July 2,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW W001), a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Cornwall on the Hudson, county of Orange, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controls for Heating Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to regulating means for furnaces used for heating buildings or houses.

The primar object of the invention is to provide a devlce whereby the damper of a heating furnace will be automatically opened and closed by the changes of atmospheric temperature acting on an electro-' thermostat placed in any desired portion of the building.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device whereby the temperature may be maintained at a substantially uniform degree, thereby adding to the comfort of the occupants of the building and resulting in a great saving in the consumption of fuel which would ordinarily be required to bring the temperature to normal should the fire become low.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is simple in construction, requires a small amount of energy to operate, and one which may be easily attached to dampers in common use.

Other objects and. advantages will be more clearly brought out in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout v the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly diagrammatic, showing the device as applied to a damper of a heating furnace.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the device shown attached to. a damper of a heating furnace, a portion of the smoke pipe 1 being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing one 1928. Serial N0. 649,178.

on the line 55 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing ratchet mechanism to permit of the raising of a weight.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuits of the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates generally a floor of a building; B, a heating furnace having the usual heating pipes C and smoke pipe D provided with a amper E; F my improved damper operating means comprising as escapement wheel G, electro-magnet H; armature 1, weight operated drum J; J a shaft for mounting said wheel and drum and a supporting bracket K therefor; L a circuit controlling means such as a thermostat and M a source of electrical energy, such as a storage battery or the like. 7

The heating furnace B may be of any preferred type, such as for hot air, hot water, or steam heat, the device being shown inthe drawings as applied to a hot air furnace. The damper E of the smoke pi e.D is of ordinary construction having a afile plate 10 rotatable by a pin 11 which projects through the smoke pipe D and being provided at one end with a handle or the like 12.

to a ceiling or a frame work of any kind which may be necessary in order to place the device in proper relation to the damper as by bolts 13.- This bracket K in the example shown is provided with parallel depending port' for the electromagnet H which is preferably placed with the end of its cores in confronting relation to the periphery of the escapement wheel G for operating the armature I.

" The shaft J may extend for any desired distance out from the arm 16 and be forked face of a combined e apement and o t t "at its outer end as at 21 for detachable wheel forming a part of the invention.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 4:4 of Figure 2, looking inthe direction of the arrows and showing the opposite side of said wheel.

Figure 51is a vertical sectionalview, taken connection with the handle 12 of the damper E 'as by a screw or bolt 22.

The escapement wheel G which is rigidly mounted on the shaft J between the arms 14 and 15 is preferably made of non-conductive material such as woodphard rub- The supporting bracket K may be secured her, fibre or the like. Spaced at a right angle to each. other and at the periphery of the escapement wheel G are four equi-' distantly spaced teeth 23 which are consecutively engaged by the armature I. Bridge pieces 24, 25, 26, and 27 are adapted to extend through the escapement wheel G and project a short distance out from each side thereof. The bridge pieces 24 and 25 are positioned diametrically opposite and relatively near the axis of said wheel and are in ali nment with two of the teeth 23 while the ridge pieces 26 and 27 are positioned diametrically opposite and at a right angle to and out of the path of travel of bridge pieces 24 and 25; said bridge pieces 26 and 27 being aligned with the other'two teeth of said escapement wheel G.

The electromagnet H which may be of any preferred type is held on the arm 17 by bolts or the like 28 and is adapted to draw the armature I out of engagement with the wheel G when a circuit is completed therethrough.

The armature I, having a hook 29 formed on its lower end for engaging the teeth 23 of the escapement wheel (Jr may be pivoted as at 30 and be held in yieldable engagement with said wheel G by a spring 31.

. The weight operated'drum J is preferably mounted loosely on the shaft J and carries a pawl 32 for engaging a ratchet wheel 33 which is secured against rotation on the shaft J. This ratchet mechanism permits of the raising of the weight 34, suspended by the rope or other flexible member 35; without rotating the shaft J. One end of the rope 35 may be fastened to the support ing bracket K and the other secured to the drum J. Handles 36 are provided on the drum in order to facilitate winding of the rope thereon.

The electrothermostat L may be of any preferred type having the three contacts 37, 38 and 39 and having wires 40, 41 and 42 respectively leading therefrom.

Mounted on and insulated from the depending arm 14 are two independent contact brushes 43 and 44 for engaging with one end of the bridge pieces 24, 25, 26, and 27 The brush 43 is placed in the path of one end of the bridge pieces 24 and 25 while the brush 44 is placed in the path of one end of the bridge pieces 26 and 27. It can be clearly seen from Figure 3 of the drawings, that as the escapement wheel G is rotated, the brushes 43 and 44 will alternately engage their respective bridge pieces. The brush 43 is connected to the contact 38 of the electrothermostat L by the wire 41, while the brush 44 is connected to thecontact 39 of theelectrothermostat L b the wire 42.

h ounted on and insulated from the depending arm 15 is a doublebrush 45 in the path of the opposite ends of the bridge pieces 24, 25, 26 and 27 from that engaged by the brushes 43 and 44. The lips 46 and 47 of the brush 45 alternately engage the bridge pieces 24, 25, 26 and 27. The brush 45 is connected to one terminal of the electromagnet H by a wire 48.

One terminal of the battery M is connected to a terminal of the electromagnet H by a wire 49, while the other terminal of the battery M is connected to the contact 37 of the electrothermostat L by a wire 40.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the damper E is in a closed position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. contact 37 engages contact 38 completing a circuit through wire 41, brush 43, bridge piece 25, brush 45, wire 48, electromagnet H, wire 49, battery M and through wire 40 back to contact 37. When the electromagnet H is energized, the armature I is drawn outof engagement with the tooth of the escapement wheel G, allowing the weight operated drum J through the pawl 32 and ratchet wheel 33 to rotate the damper E throu h one quarter of a revolution. It can %e clearly seen that when the escapement wheel G begins to rotatethe circuit is broken by the bridge piece 25, moving out of contacting relation with the brushes 43 and 45, thereby allowing the spring 31 to draw the armature into operative engagement with the next tooth of the escapement wheel G for preventing more than a one-quarter revolution of the same. has now moved into contacting relation with the brush 44 and lip 47 of the brush 45 in order that a circuit may be completed therethrough when the temperature rises above normal and results in engagement of the contacts 37 and 39. It will be noted that each time the electromagnet is energized, the result is a quarter turn of the damper.

lVhen the weight approaches its downward limit, it may be again raised by manipulation of the drum.

Various changes may be made to the shape and size of the various elements shown and described, without departin from the spirit or scope of the invention; Tut

I claim:

1. In combination with a damper for heating furnaces, a supporting bracket, a shaft mounted on the bracket adapted to be secured to said damper, an escapement wheel mounted rigidly on said shaft, coacting conducting brushes positioned at op-. posite sides of said escapement wheel for making and breaking electrical circuits by movement of the escapement wheel, an armature engaging said escapement wheel, a thermostat, an electromagnet for drawing the armature out of engagement with said escapement wheel] when a, circuit is The bridge piece 27 Due to the fall in temperature, the K completed through the coacting brushes by conducting brushes in the paths of movement of said bridge pieces, an armature engaging said escapement wheel for normally holding it against rotation, a ther' mostat, an electromagnet for drawing the armature out of engagement with said escapement wheel when a circuit is completed through the co-acting brushes and bridge pieces by the thermostat, and means for imparting movement to said shaft.

3. In combination with a damper for heating furnaces, a supporting bracket, a shaft mounted on the bracket having a forked end for engagement with the damp-' er, an escapement wheel of non-conductive material mounted rigidly on said shaft and provided at its periphery with four equi distantly spaced teeth, bridge .pieces carried by said escapement wheel and project ing from each side thereof, coacting conducting brushes ,carried by but insulated from said supporting bracket, adapted to .engage said bridge pieces on opposite sides of said escapement wheel, an armature normally held in engagementwith one of said teeth of the escapement wheel for holding it against rotation, a thermostat, an electromagnet for drawing the armature out of engagement with said escapement wheel when a circuit is completed through the coacting brushes and bridge pieces by the thermostat,- and means for imparting movement to said shaft.

4. In combination witffa damper for heating furnaces, a supporting bracket, a shaft mounted on the bracket having a forked end for engagement Withthe dampor, an escapement wheel of non-conductive. material mounted rigidly on said shaft and provided at its periphery with four equidistantly spaced teeth, bridge pieces carried by said escapement wheel and project ing from each side thereof, adjacent bridge pieces being located at different radii from the center of said wheel, co-acting conducting brushes carried by but insulated from said supporting bracket, adapted to engage the opposite ends of the bridge pieces, an armature normally held in engagement with one of sald teeth of the escapement wheel for holding it against rotation, a thermostat, an electromagnet for drawing the armature out of engagement ing furnaces, a supporting bracket, a shaft mounted on the bracket having a forked end for engagement with the damper, an escapement wheel of non-conductive material mounted rigidly on said shaft and provided at its periphery with four equidistantly spaced teeth, bridge pieces earned by said escapement wheel and projecting from each side thereof, independent contact brushes positioned at one side of said escapement wheel, adapted to alternatelyengage said bridge pieces, a double contact brush positioned at the other side of said escapement wheel, adapted to engagethe opposite ends of the bridge pieces, an armature normally held in engagement with one of said teeth of the escapement wheel for holding it against rotation, a thermostat, an electromagnet for drawing the armature out of engagement with said escapement wheel when a circuit is completed through the coacting brushes and bridge pieces by the thermostat, and means for imparting movement to said shaft. 6. In combination with a damper of that character whereby upon a uarter turn the damper will .be alternate y opened and closed, a supporting bracket, a shaft mounted on the bracket having a forked end for enga ement with the damper, an escapement wheel of non-conductive material mounted rigidly on said shaft and provided at its periphery with four equi-distantly spaced teeth, bridge pieces carried by said escapement wheel and projecting from each side thereof, independent contact brushes positioned at one side of said escapement wheel, adapted to alternately engage said bridge; i pieces, a, double contact brush positioned at the other side of said escapement wheel adapted to engagethe opposite ends of the bridge pieces, an armature normally held in engagement with one of said teeth of the escapement wheel for holding it against rotation, a thermostat, an electromagnet for drawing the armature out of engagement with said esca ement wheel when a circuit is completed t rough the coacting brushes and bridge pieces by the thermostat, and

means mounted upon the shaft for revolving 120 the shaft through one- 'uarter of a revolution when the armature is rawn out of engagement with the escapement wheel.

7. The combination with a rotatable element, a thermostat, a shaft secured to said 125 rotatable element, a circuit reverslng means said wheel at a point relatively near the 130 axis thereof and projecting from each side of the wheel, diametrically aligned bridge pieces carried by said wheel at a point relatively near the periphery thereof and projectin from each side of the wheel, said second mentioned bridge pieces lying out of diametric alignment with said first men-' tioned bridge pieces, a contact brush positioned at one side of said wheel provided with lips lying in the path of said bridge pieces, adapted to alternately engage said brid e pieces and independent contact brus es positioned at the other side of said wheel, in the path of said bridge pieces, adapted to alternately enga e the opposite ends of the bridge pieces or sending an electrical current first through one circuit and then through another; an electromagnet associated with said wheel and means for imparting movement to said wheel when 20 released by said magnet.

ANDREW WOOD. 

